HTC and S-OFF - A universal petition ***/\/\*** Sent to HTC ***/\/\***

HTC can give a generic response to a single user, but can they do the same to 1000s of users?

I think not. It's time to tell them what we think as a group.

Quote:

We, the undersigned, are formally requesting that HTC consider extending end users the ability to turn on/off the platform security on their phones (S-OFF) preferably through a method that also permits full access to the phone's software partitions (For example: "APX/NvFlash" mode on the Tegra platform). This would be a further development on the current "Bootloader Unlock" being provided on the domain htcdev.com for certain devices. Such a feature, if granted would greatly ameliorate the esteem developers and non-developer users have for HTC for its relationship with its customers.

Collectively, we also wish to make it clear that we acknowledge the risks involved with such a feature and understand that HTC is not liable for any faults caused through software modifications carried out by the end user. HTC reserves the right to refuse warranty repair on this basis providing sufficient evidence of user-induced damage is present. We are requesting that if HTC are to respond positively to this feature request that they would also make it clear that within the terms of their limited warranty and with the statutory rights of the consumer undisturbed they will not invalidate the limited warranty for instances of faults clearly arising from manufacturing errors. We would also request that any such statement would be clear in its terms without resorting to ambiguous terminology such as "may".

We also wish to state that we are aware of HTC's carrier agreements which may make such a feature impossible to implement on customised devices sold by certain carriers. With this in mind, we wish to make it clear that we are requesting such privileges only for devices that are sold as "sim-free" or by carriers who do not actively oppose such features.

For those concerned about how this will work, once we reach a sufficient number of signatories I will send a secure copy of the signatory list (With the serial numbers de-obfuscated for authentication) to HTC.

Add the link to your signatures and spread it far and wide. The more of us there are, the louder we are.

This isn't only for the One X. It's for all owners of HTC devices running Android. Spread the link far and wide.

They know it and they can ignore it because no one attempts to contact them. If one person asks for S-OFF they'll reel off the usual generic nonsense about security. If a few thousand ask for S-OFF they'll have to give something a bit more substantial.

HTC will not give us S-OFF, they have customers as well, and those customers (telecoms) don't want their users to have too much freedom. This includes access to the radio partition, allowing users to unlock handsets freely. This topic is a waste of time.

HTC will not give us S-OFF, they have customers as well, and those customers (telecoms) don't want their users to have too much freedom. This includes access to the radio partition, allowing users to unlock handsets freely. This topic is a waste of time.

People can already unlock their phones for a pittance (€5-10) online. Buying an unlock code is much easier for the average person to do and use than turning off their phone's platform security.

If you think this topic is a waste of time, I recommend you follow your advice and stop wasting your time and go do something else like complain.

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